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                               THE IRANIANS
                      Scenario for Sid Meier's Civilization II
                             By Stefan Hrtel
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WARNING: YOU NEED FANTASTIC WORLDS TO PLAY THIS SCENARIO!

INTRODUCTION
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Fans of my series of scenarios about ancient Persia, which to date includes "Quest for Asia:The conquests of Alexander the Great", "The Persian Empire", "Darius the Great" and "Artaxerxes" may be very surprised with this fifth episode. Being a big fan of Jess Balsinde's "Spanish Pride" scenario as well as other modpack-type scenarios, I wanted to do something like this, although in a historical frame. Also, I recognized that many of the scenarios out there, if not all, that claim to be about the rise of civilization do not make a serious attempt to really recreate this era. The third and last point was that I wanted to make something about the other peoples that are nowadays recognized as "Iranians". This scenario is not packed with brand-new ideas; it is rather a "summary" of my previous scenarios.

Historical Background
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The Indo-Iranian tribes, also known as the Arians, wandered into the Iranian plaeteau around 1700 BC. Here, they met with ancient tribes such as the Elamites, the Babylonians and the Kassites. The Indo-Iranians migrated in several groups, of which the most important ones where the Medes, the Bactrians, the Saca, the Persians and the Sogdians. Though they began settling around 1700 BC, it took some tribes nearly 1000 years to advance into organized cultures, the Medes became the first important Iranian civilization around 800 BC. The Iranians where a member of the Indo-European family, which occupuied the territory from today's Portugal to the Indus and from Denmark to Palestine. Other important members where the Celts, Indians, Turks and Sea Peoples. The territory north of the Caspian and Black seas where occupied by Horse nomads, of which the Iranians originated, most importantly Scythians and Kimmerians. These tribes began a short series of conquests around 750 BC. 
First mentioning of the Persians also dates back from that time, Assyrian inscriptions tell of a nomadic tribe migrating south. The Persians at first settled in Armenia, then migrated south into the modern-day province of Fars. After 220 years of Persian occupation, the Middle east was conquered by the Macedonians, but Iran soon again fell to one of it's tribes, the Parthians. The Persians again took power around 220 BC.

CIVILIZATIONS
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Any civilization can be played, but the Asians are designed to be an expansionistic computer-controlled civilization. Here follows a description of the civs in order of playability (IMHO):

Medians
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The Medians where the largest of all Iranian tribes. They occupied most of Iran around 580 BC, but before they had to fight invading Scythians and Kimmerians, who have already destroyed the kingdom of Urartu in the north and occupied Media not much later. With this permanent threat again hunted to the north, Media was ready for expansion. Another dark period followed in the 7th century BC, when Assyria dominated much of the Middle east, and had Ecbatana, the Median capital, and Susa, the Elamite capital, under it's control. Media allied up with Babylonia and its forces where able to destroy the Assyrian capital of Niniveh. After that, the Median empire stretched from the Halys in Asia Minor to Bactria, being the first large Iranian kingdom of World history. 

Saca
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'Saca' was a term used by the ancient people to describe the Transcaspian area, which never saw great settlements, except along its great rivers Oxus (Amu Darya) and Jaxartes (Syr Darya). The important tribes here where the Sogdians, Margianans, Choresmians and Parthians. Saca was a very unhospitable land, and it's residents mostly nomads. They where a permanent threat to all foreign empires, the Medians and the Persians, and where a thorn in the eye of Alexander the Great. The first independent kingdom here was the empire of the Choresm Shah, which was not much later conquered by the hordes of Genghis Khan.

Persians
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The Persians migrated along with the Medians for quite a while until going to Armenia in the north, while the Medians settled down near the Zagros mountains. The first king of Persia was Achaimenes, who was the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty. He led the Persians south, always being threatened by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Medians, but he found his way down to Parsa (Fars). In 576 BC, Cambyses I founded the Persian kingdom as a vassal of Media, and in 559, Cyrus II began a campaign against Media. In 550 BC, he conquered Ecbatana and the Persian Empire was born.

Bactrians
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Though settling in the unhospitable area of the Hindukudh mountains, the Bactrians where able to establish themselves rather quietly to an advanced tribe. They where subdued by the Medians and Persians, but never proved to be a weak civilization, rather a very much alive tribe. Even Alexander the Great had large troubles with them. They founded an independent Greek-Bactrian kingdom in about 270 BC, and where able to conquer large parts of Eastern Iran and India (Indus valley, parts of the mainland), until beign wiped out by continuing invasions of the Saca, the Indians, the Huns and Turks. 

Scythians
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The Scythians where a tribe of Iranian origin, but they never really settled down. They where a war-like people, but the little art they produced was  notable. They died out at the peak of their power, propably because they never irrigated their lands or used any other kind of agriculture. The Scythians inhabited the lands from eastern Germany/Poland to the Transcaspian area (Saca).

Indians
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The Indians where also of Indo-European origin. First civilizations in what is now known as the Indian subcontinent showed up around 3000 BC, but a true "Indian" tribe came only around 1500 BC (propably these where the "Indian Arians"). The most important dynasty was the Gupta dynasty with it's two great rulers Asoka and Chandragupta. India could always claim it's independence in antiquity, but never was united. Only the Gupta and Maurya dynasty where able to dominate most of India and Pakistan. But the south was never occupied.

Asians
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A (non historical!!!) comprehension of Asian cities and empires. This civ was made to be a computer-controled expansionist.

Barbarians
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Take the role of several great invasions,such as Xenophon's march, Hittite and Assyrian raids and Alexander the Great.

Wonders
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There are 27 wonders in this scenario. One of them is a surprise wonder you can be able to build towards the end of the scenario. 

City Improvements
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An aspect I often -if not always- left out was the proper use of city improvements. Thanks to Michael Daumens great scenario design tip however, I realized that they do add up a lot to the scenario's athmosphere. And they are important for a scenario such as this.
If you have played version 2.0 of my scenario "Darius the Great", you will recognize most of these improvements. Shield producing improvements are all based on weaveries (factory). The improvements available then are Mines (Hydro Plants), Smithies (Power Plant) Blacksmiths (Manufacturing Plants) and Goldsmiths (Nuclear Plants). Luxury improvements are Market Places, Paradeisois (Bank) and Post Offices (Stock Exchanges). Highways replace Superhighways. Further improvements are self-explaining, I think. It should be noted that happiness improvements are:Temple, Fire Temple (Cathedral) and Theatres (Colosseum). Science improvements are Gymnasion (Library), Academy (University) and Temple Schools (Research Labs).

Terrains
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Another thing I never really payed much attention to where terrains. I realized that terrains are the perfect way to simulate the natural enviroments of the area the scenario takes place in. The new terrains here are:

Steppes (Desert). Speaking in Civilization II terms, the steppe is something between the Plains and the desert, with the main point on the latter. In this scenario, Steppes occupy a large part of the north, as well as other parts of the map. Often they are just like deserts, except they are not very sandy. Here they produce only 1 food unit, nothing else. Special ressources are horses and camels.

Salt Desert (Tundra). Possibly the most unhospitable area featured here, salt deserts produce 1 shield unit. They represent the deserts in the Iranian territory. Special terrains are Quicksand and animals.

Wooded Hills (Glacier). Most forests grow on hills. In this scenario, they are a mixture of Hills and Forests, while they can be mined, not irrigated. Special terrains are cotton and wood.

Dunes (Jungle). Dunes can be several meters high, and if so, even camels have troubles climbing them. They produce absolutely nothing, and are nearly impossible to cross. Special terrains are stone and gravel.

Furthermore, I changed production and ressources of other terrains.

Other notes&bugs
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-Flags depict the flags of the countries or territories in modern days, though some where modified by me. The Saca flag is a modification of the flag of Tadjikistan, the Asian flag has the Panarabic colors (flag of Yemen), the Median flag is the flag of Kurdistan, the Bactrian flag is an 18th century flag of Persia/Iran, the Persian flag is the modern-day flag of Persia/Fars, the Scythian flag is the Ukrainian flag and the Indian flag is a modified Indian flag.

-Watch out for special "ressources". You will see what I mean.

-Rulers are quite accurate. The Sacan queen, the Asian, Median, Scythian, Indian and Persian kings existed in reality. The Bactrian queen was actually the wife of Alexander the Great (while she was a Bactrian princess).

-The Asians have several special units. They cannot be constructed by the Iranians. That is why all other tribes have a special technology.

-The Cities.gif shows another one of these great Persian artworks, this time two griffins.

Credits
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Units:
The camel rider picture is from Jess Balsinde, though modified by myself. The Immortals, Chariot and Armored Pikemen graphics where made by Allard Hfelt. The Babylonians units, Sheep, Shepherd and Archers where made by Alex "the Magnificent" Mor. The Chariot Archer was made by Erwan. The armored chariot and the Sickle Warrior where made by Paul Cullivan. The horsemen was made by me and modified by Allard Hfelt. 
All units carrying "SH" where made by me. You may use any of these units in your scenario if you DON'T erase my signature and a word of credit is given.

Icons:
The well icon is from Jess Balsinde and Jess Munoz' "War of Cuba" scenario. The Barracks, Academy and Theater icons where made by me with modifications by Allard Hfelt. The Paradeisoi, Market Place, Gymnasion, Courthouse, City Walls, Blacksmith, Smithy, Qanat, Highway and Fishing Port icons come either from Microprose or Harlan Thompson's Huge collection of Icons.
The Teaches of Zoroaster and Apadana icons where made by Michael Daumen. The Mt. Teches and Babylonian Observatory come from the web, though modified by me. The Silk Route is from Harlan's "Mongols" scenario. The Taxilan monastery, Asian Mines and Royal Highway are from his icons collection. All other icons where made by me.

Terrain:
Most of them are either from Michael Daumen or the "Allterrain" file. The Mountains where made by Harlan Thompson. 

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FEEDBACK:
If you have comments or questions, critics or ideas, then I'd like to read them! 
Write to this adress:
Stefan.Haertel@t-online.de

Stefan Hrtel, July 28th 1999
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